A couple of weeks ago the Chicago Blackhawks decided to ban Native American headdresses at all team-sanctioned events, which followed decisions by the Washington Football Team and Edmonton CFL team to change their names entirely.

The Kansas City Chiefs name is not going anywhere, but in a similar move announced Thursday that they are also taking steps to make sure that American-Indian culture is not being appropriated inside Arrowhead Stadium.

In a statement, the reigning Super Bowl champions announced that headdresses and some face paint will be banned at their games, and they’ll also review the “Arrowhead Chop,” which is their version of the Atlanta Braves and Florida State cheer.

These are the changes being made:

  • While we have discouraged fans from wearing headdresses for several years, effective immediately, fans will be prohibited from wearing headdresses into the stadium.
  • Face painting is still allowed for all fans, but any face paint that is styled in a way that references or appropriates American Indian cultures and traditions will be prohibited.
  • Fans will be asked to remove any American Indian-themed face paint prior to passing security screening outside the stadium.
  • We are engaged in a thorough review process of the Arrowhead Chop and plan to have additional discussions in the future.
  • We are exploring all options for a modified engagement moment from the Drum Deck that maintains a unifying effect between our fans and our players but better represents the spiritual significance of the drum in American Indian cultures.
  • This includes discussions around how to shift the focus of the drum to something that symbolizes the heartbeat of the stadium.
  • As allowed by NFL guidelines and the City of Kansas City Health Department for the coronavirus-impacted 2020 season, we will continue with many of the traditions that we have introduced over the past six years, including the Blessing of the Four Directions, the Blessing of the Drum, as well as inviting members of tribes with a historic connection to our region to participate in our American Indian Heritage Month Game.
  • Finally, we are exploring the creation of a more formalized education program with input from both our local and national partners.

The Chiefs note that they began a dialogue with Native American leaders back in 2014, with the goal of gaining “a better understanding of the issues facing American Indian communities in our region.”

As for the Arrowhead Chop, here’s a good video in case you are living under a rock and have never seen it before: